Cut Your SIM card to make it work on your iPhone 5

A regular SIM card is too big for an iPhone 5, which requires a Nano SIM, so if you want to use the regular SIM, you will need to cut it down. Remember, if you do this, it will be at your own risk because it is not merely cutting it down. You will also need to make it thinner to have a perfect fit in your SIM holder.

TIPS AND WARNINGS

Do it at your own risk. Since you are manually cutting the SIM card yourself, there is always that possibility that you may damage the SIM card permanently or you may get physical cuts and could get hurt. VisiHow will not be liable any damage that you may have with your SIM card or with yourself.

Ask assistance. If you are not a good cutter or not strong enough to cut through a SIM card, it is always best to ask the help of an older and more capable person. Never compromise your safety nor the people around you by doing something that you are not yet good at.

Back up the contents of your SIM card just in case you ruin your SIM card. Backing up of SIM card data is advisable so you can restore them back on the unfortunate cases that you damaged your SIM card beyond usability. You can transfer your contacts from your SIM card to another phone that supports the SIM card. No matter what phone are you using, the process is very similar. Go to Contacts and allow the settings to transfer or copy contacts from the SIM to a phone.

Read the procedures above carefully before cutting your SIM.

When SIM card is damaged and it was new, then you may need to buy a new one and cut it out again. If you can, buy the supported SIM card (Nano-SIM) to save you from any hassles. If the number on that SIM card is important and you do not want to change number,you can go to the network's customer care center and ask for a replacement SIM. Usually, replacement SIM will only cost like a regular SIM card. Before going to the network center, give them a call on what are the requirements so you will know the documents and compliance that you need to do.

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Questions and Answers

I need my standard SIM into a Nano SIM... What will happen if I cut the metal part down?

I am very nervous doing this and my dad said he won't buy me another phone, I broke my Straight Talk phone so now I am trying to put my SIM into iPhone5

The phone will be intact, but the SIM card has a slight chance of not working after the procedure. It is better to replace the card at your provider. It is also possible to check any phone provider close to your area and ask a clerk to cut your SIM card to the nano-SIM size for you. Some shops have cutting tools for that.

Provided that you wish to continue the procedure and have a high success rate, be sure to obtain a nano-SIM card from someone and use it to align it with your current SIM card by looking at the metal parts and their guidelines on both cards. After you align them, use a soft pen to outline the nano-SIM size over your card.

Cut lout your SIM card. This may include cutting through the metal part too. Compare your new SIM card to the nano-SIM card. Your card should be slightly bigger.

Take a fine-grit sandpaper and adjust the size to the standard 12.3 mm x 8.8 mm.

Does it matter if I have cut the metal on the SIM?

I have just manually cut my SIM card to fit my iPhone 5S and I cut a bit of the metal, does this matter?

It is necessary to do that.
A nano-SIM card is, indeed, smaller than the metal part of a standard SIM card.

You can use a nano-SIM template, whether printed or real, to align it with the SIM card that needs cutting. Position it by looking at the guidelines on both SIM cards.

Cut the metal part. Cut it so that your modified SIM card is a bit bigger than required. File the sides very prudently afterwards.

If you do not have a Nano-SIM card template (whether real or printed), then you can just cut off the nonmetal part and file or cut the metal part from all of the sides until the whole SIM card is 12.3 mm by 8.8 mm. Do not forget to cut the proper corner as the last step.